Are you drinking your recommended amount of water, EVERY DAY?? I am, and hope you are too. Remember, focus on one day at a time.

As we’ve discovered so far, water is essential to our health & wellness in so many ways. This week we will look at ways to incorporate water into your daily routine.

If you know me, you know that I have at least a bottle of water or 2 with me at all times. It’s one of the reasons that I am able to reach my daily water goal. You can’t drink it if you don’t have it. And if it’s not in your face, it’s easy to get caught up with whatever you’re doing and forget to drink. So make it easier on yourself by keeping it with you.

My favorite brand is SmartWater because I like the taste. You may think, it’s water. Doesn’t all water taste the same? Actually no, it doesn’t. But because I drink so much of it, I refill at home quite a bit.

So taste is obviously affected when I refill, which leads to the main reason I like SmartWater. It’s the shape of the bottle. The 1 liter bottle is slim, which makes it easy to carry and easy to track (3 or 4 and I’m good for the day). And it fits nicely in the cup holder in my car.

I’ve also learned to drink it when it’s warm. Not hot, just room temperature. This makes it a lot easier on you. Think about it. If you can only drink it when it’s ice cold, then you are making it tougher on yourself to keep it with you. So give it a shot and try to get used to drinking it at room temperature at times. Like when you’re on the go and can’t keep it refrigerated.

I’ve met some people that simply don’t like water. It’s hard to understand but I get it. So what can you do if this describes you? There are plenty of things you can do. But it may take some extra effort to prepare something that appeals a little more to your taste buds.

Try a squeeze of lemon, lime or orange. Or add some cucumber or fresh mint. How about fresh berries? But let’s try to avoid sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners. I have seen others recommend adding Crystal Light. I’m not a fan but if you need something like this, I would suggest using a small portion of the packet. And see if you can wean yourself off over time.

Some prefer to add some fizz by carbonating their water. So if natural water tastes too bland or you’re looking for some variety, the carbon dioxide gas will make it bubbly and tangy. Think seltzer water; not club soda. Soda water (aka club soda) contains sodium.

I was unable to confirm the accurateness, but I’ve read some sources that claim you can count 50% of the volume from coffee and tea as long as you don’t add milk and sugar. If it helps in the beginning, then count it. But I would focus on drinking your recommended amount of water, and enjoy the coffee or tea for other reasons.

The bottom line is this. You need to drink a lot of water every day. And whatever helps you drink more of it, then I say go for it. If you need a little help with flavoring or bubbles, that’s fine. Drink up. Just be aware of added sugars, sodium or caffeine.

And beware of sport drinks. They’re marketed as healthy, but in many cases they’re not. Our bodies need water; not Propel, Vitamin Water or other sports beverages that are full of sugar. And unless you’re an elite athlete that needs to be concerned with fluid loss due to extreme training, you don’t have to worry about drinking Gatorade to replenish your electrolyte levels.

FYI, vitaminwater (owned by Coca Cola) contains 32 grams of added sugar in a 20oz bottle. That’s insane! I’m not suggesting it but even a Snapple Iced Tea contains less added sugar – wth?

Want some help keeping track of your water intake? Download a copy of Darren Hardy’s “Weekly Rhythm Register”. You can download it for free at http://thecompoundeffect.com/downloads/english-weekly_rhythm_register.pdf. As we add new habits, you will find this to be a valuable tool for “tracking” your new healthy habits.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I’d love for you to let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Is the content valuable and helpful? Did anything resonate? Will you take action? What else would you like to see in future posts?

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